Email Interview

First off thanks for doing the interview!!

1. Please introduce the band to our viewers.
We are Beyond Shadows, this is Khalid speaking (lead vocals/lead guitars).

2. Where did the name Beyond Shadows come from?
Since Karnal's Black was defunct, we (the band's lineup during Spring 2004) decided to rename the band to start a-new... so to speak. We came up with many different titles, and since no one had any ideas I stepped up to the plate and put the name out there. Everyone liked it!

3. Where do you hang your horns, where do you call home?
New York City!

4. When was the band formed and how did you all hook up with one another?
The newest version of the bands lineup was completed last week! LOL... Elysa joined the band earlier this year (2005) back when he still had a drummer, and she stuck with me even though the drummer left and the other guitarist. Johnny and myself have been friends for a while, and at first Johnny was just helping out for a show, since he was busy with his own band, but later he became so interested he just had to join up!

5. How would you best describe your music and whom is your target audience?
It's very musical... LOL I notice some ignorant people don't even bother paying attention to the music, just the vocals, and that bothers me a lot. Our latest release Descent To Damnation is a concept album, the whole thing tells the story of a character and follows some parts of his life. I'm influenced by a lot of Heavy Metal bands, like Metallica, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest, as well as bands like Death, The Haunted, Dark Tranquillity. Its a weird mix I guess, but people seem to enjoy it. As for a target audience, I don't really care as long as they enjoy it, that's an audience right there. Metalheads, goths, punks, preps, whoever wants to listen to it, go right ahead. Just be careful if your next to the pit! I'm totally uninterested in changing our sound for the sake of gaining a bigger audience. If someone doesn't like it, its their loss.

6. Touring plans?
We played an awesome show @ Don Hill's on 3/27, and were supposed to play a show in New Jersey last week, but that got cancelled. We're currently looking for a drummer, but we might have a show before we find a permanent one using the good old drum machine. [The band did find a drummer, Cello, as in the instrument.]

 

7. If you could commission a band to do your favorite song, who would do it and which song would it be?
If At The Gates commissioned Beyond Shadows to do a cover tune of "Cold" we could die happy!

 

8. Now if you could commission a band to do a Beyond Shadows cover tune, who would do it and which song would it be?
Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Megadeth or King Diamond... they'd have to do "Scorched", "Scalded", "Blistered" or "Descent to Damnation"!

 

9. Who would you like to see your name next to on a marquee, your all time bill from hell?
Beyond Shadows
The Haunted
At The Gates
Metallica
Megadeth
Slayer!!!!!!

10. Who writes the songs for the band, is it one particular persons talent or more of a collective thing?
Until now it was I who wrote most of the material, a few previous band members left their mark in some of the songs, however. Now that we have a functional second guitarist, expect him to contribute to the music, as well as Elysa if she's interested in writing material.

 

11 What's the biggest test of character you've endured thus far with your life in Beyond Shadows?
Definitely dealing with all the flakes, addicts, assholes, and everything in between while searching for new band members. I can write a whole damn novel on all those people!

12. How would you best describe the mood of the band right now?
Busy, tired, pissed, upset all rolled into one.

13. Who are you listening to in the genre?
STILL listening to King Diamond's Puppet Master! As well as Iron Maiden's Dance of Death, and can't wait to hear the new Judas Priest album!

14. Releases? Where can your CD be found?
We got a bunch of old demos, also filled with cover songs. Our album, Descent To Damnation, can be attained by messaging us through My Space, and we can work out the rest there.

15. If you could work collaborate with anyone (producer wise), whom would you chose?
The guy who produced Death's Symbolic album.

16. What can a Beyond Shadows fan expect at a live show?
Plenty of fan interaction, definitely! Amusing and informative breaks in-between songs, awesome musicianship, and crazy headbanging!

17. Wish list?

If Metal Blade were to sign us today, we would lose our minds!

18. Things we could not live without as a band if stranded on a desert island.
Cell phones... DUH

19. We would love to sit in on _______ next record session.

We would love to sit in on Metallica's next record session, to make sure they don't do another St. Anger... LOL

20. Lastly but not least, is there anything you would like to share with your fans?
Hope you all are enjoying the songs, and if there are any questions or concerns don't hesitate to get in touch with us! Hope to see you all at one point or another! Wish us luck!